Govt to work with int’l partners to develop modern port facility laws – AG

…ABC countries & UAE among those helping to develop framework

Modern port facilities will need a modern legislative framework and according to Attorney General (AG) Anil Nandlall, SC, the Government is working along with its international partners in a number of other countries to develop such a framework in pursuit of its ambitions as a transshipment hub.

The Government has for some time articulated its vision of transforming Guyana into a transshipment hub, while leveraging the country’s geographic advantages. According to the AG during his recent end of year press conference, this means building out of a modern port facility at strategic locations in Guyana.
“We are building out a modern port facility, at Port Georgetown and at various important riverain sites. Because we have to expand the country to increase in trade and maritime activities. The country is growing,” Nandlall explained.
A key component of these ambitions is a modern port facility legislative framework, which would govern operations at these facilities and ensure international standards are met. Nandlall explained that Guyana is working with various international partners, including the United States (US), countries in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Caribbean, towards this goal.
“Again, you need a modern port facility legislative framework. And we are working with international partners such as the Government of Canada, United Kingdom (UK), United States and the Governments of the UAE countries, along with some in the Caribbean,” Nandlall added.
President Dr Irfaan Ali had recently revealed that a proposal is being worked on for a new deep-water port, identifying mid-January as a timeframe to complete this proposal. The Government has expressed its interest in co-investing in a port facility venture, amid logistical challenges with shipping in the Caribbean.
Not only would such a port significantly boost Guyana’s exports, it would also enhance the delivery of goods and reduce shipping costs. And on the heels of President Dr Irfaan Ali’s recent revelation that a proposal is being worked on for a new deep-water port, the head of the Shipping Association of Guyana, Phillip Fernandes had confirmed that several locations and investment options are indeed being considered.
In an invited comment to the Guyana Times, Fernandes had acknowledged the need for such a facility, as well as the fact that his association and some of the major terminal operators have had engagements with the Government.
“The current infrastructure in Port Georgetown is inadequate to handle any significant increase in cargo volumes. With Guyana growing at its current rate, the projected cargo in the coming years would surely over-tax our cargo terminals and produce congestion and inefficiencies,” he had explained.
“Over the past couple of years, the Shipping Association of Guyana and some of the major terminal operators have had several engagements with the Government to consider various options for a deep-water port and new national cargo-handling terminal,” Fernandes had further said.
Recently, an industrial dispute in Trinidad and Tobago had resulted in delays in shipments of goods to Guyana. Since Guyana does not have a deep-water port, vessels would have to go to countries like Trinidad and Jamaica to offload and then transship the goods to Georgetown. Only last year, the local private sector had bemoaned the delays in transshipment after consignments were stuck in those territories ahead of the busy Christmas holidays.
However, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had explained that the reason Guyana has not been able to move forward with this port facility is due to the large-scale investment it would require. He ascertains that the project could run upwards of US$1 billion, hence, the need for the Government to co-finance such a venture.